Thursdays With Greg Byrne - 3/19/09
bulldog-club@athletics.msstate.edu
CONGRATS GO OUT TO BASKETBALL
It has been a wild week for both our men’s and women’s basketball teams.
As I’m sure every Bulldog knows, our men’s team won four games in four days at the SEC Tournament in Tampa last week and EARNED a berth in the NCAA Tournament, which starts for us today against Washington in Portland, Ore. We were all so proud of how hard our team played. They represented us so well.
Our women’s team learned earlier this week that it would also play in the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs finished sixth in the SEC during the regular season and are back in the “big dance” for the first time in five years. They open play Saturday against Texas in Columbus, Ohio.
You should be proud that Mississippi State is one of just 26 schools in the country that has both their men’s and women’s teams in Division I NCAA Tournament play. We are one of only three SEC schools to accomplish that feat.
* * *
OUR TEAMS GARNER GREAT NATIONAL EXPOSURE
Our men’s basketball team’s appearance in the SEC title game last weekend provided the university some great national exposure. Our team’s win over Tennessee drew a 2.1 national rating, according to Paulsen’s television rating service. Essentially, that means that 2.1 million homes nation-wide were tuned into the broadcast of the game.
That rating is the same as the Florida-Arkansas league championship game in 2007, and is tied for the third-highest rating since 2000. By the way, the Mississippi State-Kentucky finale in 2003 is the second-highest rated championship game.
We also received great exposure nationally on ESPN for the women’s selection show this past Monday evening. Mississippi State’s name will be in all the Texas newspapers this week because of our game against the University of Texas and our game will have national coverage on ESPN2 on Saturday. There are many positives about college athletics and one of the best is the incredible exposure that Mississippi State can receive with a strong athletic program.
* * *
BULLDOGS WELCOMED TO PORTLAND BY A BULLDOG
Our Air Tran charter flight was brought into the Portland International Airport on Tuesday by air traffic controller Beth Alacca. Beth is the daughter of Richard Akins, one of our strength and conditioning coaches, and the guy most responsible for the physical training of our men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The really special part of the story is that when we arrived, it marked just the third time in the last seven years that Beth and Richard have been together. Beth served oversees with the military in air traffic control prior to concluding her enlistment period and joining the state-side work force in her profession.
* * *
CBS RELEASES CLEARANCES FOR MSU-WASHINGTON GAME
Today’s first round game in the NCAA Tournament will air as the primary game on 15 regional affiliates. Areas near both Starkville and Seattle will see the game in its entirety. The CBS broadcast will also be available across the nation on CBS College Sports Network.
CBS College Sports Network is available on DirecTV (Channel 613) and on various cable outlets. Fans outside of the 15 primary markets are encouraged to contact their cable operator for details about CBS College Sports Network availability.
Tipoff at the Rose Garden is set for 3:45 p.m. CT.
A complete CBS affiliate listing follows that will televise the game over the air:
KTVA - Anchorage, Ak.
WIAT - Birmingham, Ala.
WKRG - Mobile, Ala.
KLEW - Lewiston, Idaho
WCBI - Columbus, Miss.
WXVT - Greenville, Miss.
WHLT - Hattiesburg, Miss.
WJTV - Jackson, Miss.
WMDN - Meridian, Miss.
KOIN - Portland, Ore.
WREG - Memphis
KEPR - Pasco, Wash.
KIRO - Seattle
KREM - Spokane
Again, please check your local listings if you are outside these markets for the CBS College Sports Network.
* * *
CONGRATS ALSO TO MARKETING STUDENT BLAKELY
We’re also excited to announce that Taylor Blakely, a senior in sports communication from Winona, Miss., was recently offered a summer internship position with the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Taylor has been a student volunteer in the athletic marketing department the past couple of years. You may well have seen Taylor working any number of athletic events. He will report for duty after completing his final exams in early May and will work through the summer. He will return for graduate school in the Fall.
Taylor will be working in preparation of the College World Series, held every year at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, assisting in team hospitality, fan autograph sessions and helping to organize the opening day ceremonies. He will then assist throughout the tournament in the NCAA offices on site, in the box office and with other tasks as assigned. Once the tournament has concluded, Taylor will help with follow-up questionnaires and media presentations to be delivered at the NCAA Baseball Conference in late July. We hope to see Taylor leading out the Diamond Dogs of Mississippi State in early June. Great job Taylor.
* * *
1. Buy Season Tickets
2. Financially Support the Bulldog Club
3. Get Others To Do The Same
Thanks for taking the time to read this update.
Go Dawgs!
Greg Byrne
byrne@athletics.msstate.edu